THE FIRST SUV IN 106 YEARS – ASTON MARTIN DBX

Looking at our fleet it’s clear to see that EVHIRE loves high performance, luxury SUVs and we also love the latest technology and designs, therefore Aston Martin’s recent unveiling was impossible for us to miss. Today the legendary English marque unveiled their first ever SUV – DBX. 

Aston Martin have a long and illustrious history, one that spans over a century and in that time they have never really strayed out the GT, sportscar and racecar segments as even something like the Rapide is a refined, high performance vehicle, despite it’s 4 (swan) doors. The time to try something completely different has apparently arrived, presumably due to a need to comply with new emissions regulations and unlock new markets, so here we have the very first Aston Martin SUV. Let’s explore this new model in a little more detail, shall we?

Aston’s 106 year history is celebrated at the launch of DBX with the optional ‘1913’ pack that adds limited edition commemorative badges and plaques. Aesthetically, the base car starts with what we expect – that iconic Aston Martin grille, that was first seen in 1949 on a DB2 race car. The recognisable lines that flow up from this take us over the bonnet and the muscular arches to what could be the first Aston Martin to offer roof rack connections. If we offered a DBX for hire in London, who would want to take it on a weekend cycling holiday or extended break to Wales or Scotland? The rear of the car, rather unexpectedly for an SUV, but perhaps not so unexpected for an Aston, ends with a prominent ducktail spoiler that’s reminiscent of that seen on the current vantage line. This may divide opinion, but it means this is an SUV with GT and sportscar DNA bred into it and we can appreciate that. DBX sits on a variety of 22 inch wheels, with our current favourite being the interlacing black and bronze 22 inch ribbon design. Feel free to let us know yours if you decide to stray into the Aston configurator.

We can now move onto what you’re all probably most interested in. DBX is powered by the AMG sourced 4L-twin turbo V8 that’s also found in Vantage (and our beloved G63 AMGs). In DBX, this engine produces 542bhp and 700nm of torque. Despite being formed from a strong and lightweight bonded aluminium shell, this power-plant has to propel a car that’s just over 5m long and has a kurb weight of 2245kg, so it’s 4.5s 0-62mph time and top speed of 181mph are impressive figures. To ensure a smooth drive DBX is equipped with a 9-speed automatic gearbox which primarily drives the rear wheels through a lightweight carbon propeller shaft and rear limited slip differential. The car features an adaptive drive system that, as previously mentioned, sends 100% of the power to the rear wheels during faster road only driving, but can also send up to 50% to the front wheels when more grip is required, such as in slower, off-road driving. DBX’ ride is managed by front independent double wishbones and a multi link system at the rear, a system shared with many other current Aston Martin models, so we can surely expect a firm, but comfortable ride. The level of comfort felt from this system is governed by a 3 stage adaptive air suspension system. This system can raise the car by as much as 45mm and lower it by 50mm, providing the driver with the freedom to attack multiple road surfaces and driving styles.

Moving into the interior we find a flowing and soft environment, just as it’s exterior. As standard, DBX comes upholstered in leather with piano black inlays, but all of this can be changed as it’s highly customisable. It comes packed with a great standard specification that includes: an Aston Martin 800w, 14 speaker premium audio system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, adjustable 64 colour ambient lighting, 360 degree parking system and 12-way adjustable seats with heating and 3 stage memory functionality. There’s also 694L of storage in the back!

We’re suitably impressed by the comparatively delicate aesthetic and high standard specification of DBX, but the real question is, should EVHIRE offer an Aston Martin DBX hire in London to their fleet?

Let us know what you think about DBX and whether or not you think Aston Martin’s latest offering is worthy of joining our fleet.